Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Thursday 14 October 1999

Scottish Executive

Culture

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the Department of Media, Culture and Sport in regard to ensuring that digital television coverage extends to all parts of the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The policy of the UK Government is that analogue transmissions should not be switched off until the overwhelming majority of people can receive digital television free to air as people can receive analogue services at present. We maintain contact with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as necessary.

Culture

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the criteria used for selecting the members of the focus group created as part of Creating Scotland , the consultation document on a national cultural strategy, and why the focus group has no members who represent the North East of Scotland or any organisation based in that region.

Rhona Brankin: Members of the group were appointed on the basis of their personal professional expertise in relation to the arts. The focus group will oversee the consultation process which aims to engage people, organisations and interests from all parts of Scotland.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any meetings with Her Majesty’s Government Minister for School Standards and if so, what were the outcomes of the meetings.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Neither my Deputy Minister nor I have had any such meetings. Officials of the Scottish Executive Education Department have regular contact with their counterparts in the Department for Education and Employment.

Education

Ms Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state the number of students from the area covered by North Ayrshire Council who have entered full time higher education over the last four years, together with the proportion of them exempt from making any contribution to tuition fees.

Henry McLeish: The information is not available in the form requested, but that which is available is given below. It includes those entrants to undergraduate higher education courses in both Further and Higher Education Institutions. The domicile of the student is recorded as the permanent home location.

  Table: Full time entrants to Higher Education courses who were recorded as being domiciled in North Ayrshire

  


Academic Year 


1st 

  Degree 


Other Higher 

  Education 


Total 

  




1996-97 

  

638  

  

1,136  

  

1,774  

  



1997-98 

  

601  

  

974  

  

1,575  

  



  Information prior to 1996-97 academic session is not readily available at individual local authority level due to reorganisation.

  ‘Other Higher Education’ relates to those on sub degree Higher Education courses such as HNC, HND, etc.

  Students were not required to contribute to tuition fees during these two years. In academic year 1998-99, when contributions were first introduced, 59% of the first year students domiciled in North Ayrshire who applied to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland were assessed as not being liable to make a contribution to their tuition fees.

Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the action plan setting out remedial action to be taken by East Dunbartonshire Council regarding the administration of housing and council tax benefits will be implemented.

Mr Jack McConnell: This is a matter for the local authority concerned.

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-541 by Susan Deacon on 27 July 1999, to specify the number and percentage of the total number of (a) hospital consultants; (b) junior doctors working in hospitals, and (c) general practitioners who have resigned or retired early on the grounds of ill health in each health board area in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available and in each of the previous three years.

Susan Deacon: The Information and Statistics Division of the NHS in Scotland (ISD) collects data on reasons for leaving the medical profession. However, although their data categories do include ill health as a reason for leaving, there may be difficulties with the data as individuals may choose not to record the reasons for their departure from the service.

Justice

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify, for each sheriff court in each of the last five years, the number of cases dealt with by (a) summary procedure and (b) on indictment; and, for each district court in each of the last five years, the total number of cases dealt with, under summary procedure.

Lord Hardie: I attach tables showing, for each Sheriff Court in each of the last five years, the number of cases reported to the Procurator Fiscal in which proceedings were raised on indictment and by means of summary complaint respectively. Statistics showing the number of cases dealt with in each District Court in each of the last five years are not available. The attached tables include the nearest available statistics, namely those showing, in each of the last five years, the number of cases reported to each Procurator Fiscal in which proceedings in the District Court were raised. Some Procurator Fiscal’s offices are served by more than one District Court.

  In the case of Glasgow, the statistics for cases proceeding in the District Court are exclusive of those cases which proceed in the Stipendiary Magistrates Court. Cases which proceed in the Stipendiary Magistrates Court in Glasgow are combined with the cases which proceed by means of summary complaint in the Sheriff Court and are shown in the "Total Sheriff/Stip" column. Glasgow District Court is the only court in Scotland which has Stipendiary Magistrates.

  

 

FY 1994-95 

  


FY 1995-96 

  


FY 1996-97 

  


FY 1997-98 

  


FY 1998-99 

  




Total Sh/
Jury 


Total Sheriff/Stip 


Total District 


Total Sh/Jury 


Total Sheriff/
Stip 


Total District 


Total Sh/Jury 


Total Sheriff/Stip 


Total District 


Total Sh/
Jury 


Total Sheriff/Stip 


Total District 


Total Sh/
Jury 


Total Sheriff/Stip 


Total District 




Aberdeen 

  

108  

  

5,171  

  

4,372  

  

127  

  

3,490  

  

3,609  

  

141  

  

4,591  

  

4,472  

  

121  

  

3,911  

  

4,155  

  

142  

  

5,204  

  

4,239  

  



Airdrie 

  

109  

  

1,717  

  

1,703  

  

88  

  

1,912  

  

1,613  

  

82  

  

1,860  

  

1,635  

  

110  

  

2,007  

  

1,581  

  

113  

  

2,135  

  

1,558  

  



Alloa 

  

11  

  

786  

  

831  

  

6  

  

675  

  

548  

  

9  

  

608  

  

481  

  

9  

  

582  

  

497  

  

18  

  

536  

  

362  

  



Arbroath 

  

16  

  

709  

  

600  

  

19  

  

826  

  

720  

  

32  

  

793  

  

773  

  

30  

  

915  

  

579  

  

31  

  

1,146  

  

852  

  



Ayr 

  

102  

  

2,867  

  

1,828  

  

78  

  

3,097  

  

2,125  

  

75  

  

3,101  

  

2,123  

  

72  

  

2,885  

  

2,082  

  

86  

  

3,000  

  

1,660  

  



Banff 

  

5  

  

397  

  

234  

  

8  

  

396  

  

237  

  

7  

  

453  

  

230  

  

5  

  

337  

  

247  

  

6  

  

393  

  

279  

  



Campbeltown 

  

8  

  

172  

  

229  

  

2  

  

217  

  

256  

  

2  

  

323  

  

155  

  

4  

  

240  

  

150  

  

3  

  

288  

  

93  

  



Cupar 

  

16  

  

747  

  

368  

  

16  

  

671  

  

402  

  

17  

  

712  

  

230  

  

18  

  

669  

  

425  

  

21  

  

538  

  

299  

  



Dingwall 

  

7  

  

454  

  

339  

  

6  

  

396  

  

206  

  

4  

  

593  

  

264  

  

7  

  

440  

  

261  

  

5  

  

443  

  

272  

  



Dornoch 

  

0  

  

215  

  

86  

  

2  

  

271  

  

85  

  

2  

  

209  

  

59  

  

1  

  

133  

  

78  

  

3  

  

151  

  

49  

  



Dumbarton 

  

82  

  

2,171  

  

1,038  

  

56  

  

1,995  

  

999  

  

61  

  

2,053  

  

1,145  

  

75  

  

2,191  

  

1,595  

  

95  

  

1,715  

  

1,131  

  



Dumfries 

  

37  

  

2,497  

  

1,650  

  

44  

  

2,378  

  

1,583  

  

51  

  

1,998  

  

1,715  

  

40  

  

1,596  

  

1,330  

  

45  

  

2,078  

  

945  

  



Dundee 

  

82  

  

3,353  

  

2,684  

  

113  

  

3,511  

  

2,472  

  

133  

  

3,115  

  

2,399  

  

147  

  

2,436  

  

2,230  

  

91  

  

2,640  

  

1,679  

  



Dunfermline 

  

38  

  

2,722  

  

1,662  

  

31  

  

2,389  

  

1,148  

  

47  

  

2,132  

  

1,058  

  

51  

  

1,780  

  

1,054  

  

48  

  

1,696  

  

936  

  



Dunoon 

  

11  

  

423  

  

205  

  

9  

  

422  

  

208  

  

12  

  

452  

  

197  

  

8  

  

455  

  

174  

  

9  

  

354  

  

158  

  



Duns 

  

7  

  

279  

  

1,131  

  

7  

  

306  

  

721  

  

10  

  

219  

  

356  

  

6  

  

215  

  

406  

  

2  

  

151  

  

384  

  



Edinburgh 

  

282  

  

9,117  

  

5,136  

  

261  

  

8,010  

  

5,242  

  

298  

  

7,772  

  

5,111  

  

308  

  

8,829  

  

5,302  

  

314  

  

7,820  

  

4,229  

  



Elgin 

  

6  

  

964  

  

1,266  

  

17  

  

1,036  

  

1,088  

  

10  

  

1,068  

  

901  

  

26  

  

1,076  

  

736  

  

18  

  

1,273  

  

698  

  



Falkirk 

  

29  

  

2,372  

  

1,486  

  

54  

  

2,589  

  

1,390  

  

65  

  

2,345  

  

1,578  

  

77  

  

2,084  

  

1,614  

  

85  

  

1,884  

  

1,449  

  



Forfar 

  

21  

  

646  

  

757  

  

9  

  

592  

  

541  

  

12  

  

466  

  

397  

  

9  

  

514  

  

553  

  

4  

  

476  

  

581  

  



Fort William 

  

3  

  

604  

  

394  

  

1  

  

641  

  

507  

  

6  

  

571  

  

449  

  

9  

  

423  

  

355  

  

5  

  

287  

  

260  

  



Glasgow 

  

773  

  

17,012  

  

13,479  

  

688  

  

15,933  

  

12,803  

  

695  

  

19,098  

  

10,168  

  

778  

  

18,148  

  

9,238  

  

656  

  

17,684  

  

8,352  

  



Greenock 

  

63  

  

1,623  

  

1,274  

  

64  

  

1,718  

  

1,266  

  

60  

  

1,667  

  

1,360  

  

58  

  

1,221  

  

981  

  

64  

  

1,093  

  

1,052  

  



Haddington 

  

21  

  

1,194  

  

1,444  

  

16  

  

995  

  

1,350  

  

7  

  

1,025  

  

913  

  

11  

  

865  

  

927  

  

17  

  

818  

  

702  

  



Hamilton 

  

208  

  

4,112  

  

4,745  

  

204  

  

4,805  

  

4,533  

  

170  

  

4,325  

  

4,774  

  

190  

  

3,873  

  

5,128  

  

154  

  

4,177  

  

4,205  

  



Inverness 

  

23  

  

1,666  

  

1,692  

  

9  

  

1,489  

  

1,307  

  

8  

  

1,557  

  

1,059  

  

28  

  

1,686  

  

1,032  

  

34  

  

1,482  

  

1,171  

  



Jedburgh 

  

14  

  

362  

  

422  

  

23  

  

835  

  

481  

  

25  

  

536  

  

395  

  

22  

  

366  

  

416  

  

32  

  

363  

  

393  

  



Kilmarnock 

  

122  

  

3,736  

  

1,978  

  

101  

  

3,521  

  

1,924  

  

122  

  

3,734  

  

2,351  

  

112  

  

3,381  

  

2,641  

  

94  

  

3,407  

  

2,455  

  



Kirkcaldy 

  

55  

  

2,859  

  

1,745  

  

46  

  

2,636  

  

1,701  

  

75  

  

3,020  

  

1,586  

  

81  

  

2,568  

  

1,337  

  

90  

  

2,525  

  

1,599  

  



Kirkcudbright 

  

9  

  

437  

  

323  

  

8  

  

438  

  

289  

  

16  

  

491  

  

419  

  

7  

  

410  

  

368  

  

8  

  

329  

  

189  

  



Kirkwall 

  

2  

  

267  

  

0  

  

4  

  

293  

  

0  

  

2  

  

302  

  

0  

  

4  

  

276  

  

0  

  

4  

  

270  

  

0  

  



Lanark 

  

15  

  

804  

  

976  

  

15  

  

928  

  

1,265  

  

17  

  

1,157  

  

1,271  

  

15  

  

1,299  

  

1,146  

  

13  

  

1,114  

  

1,245  

  



Lerwick 

  

2  

  

302  

  

0  

  

2  

  

277  

  

0  

  

0  

  

307  

  

0  

  

2  

  

272  

  

0  

  

3  

  

303  

  

0  

  



Linlithgow 

  

61  

  

2,298  

  

2,366  

  

53  

  

1,904  

  

1,423  

  

48  

  

2,307  

  

1,463  

  

51  

  

1,949  

  

1,445  

  

60  

  

1,900  

  

1,436  

  



Lochmaddy 

  

0  

  

163  

  

0  

  

1  

  

172  

  

0  

  

0  

  

101  

  

0  

  

0  

  

108  

  

0  

  

1  

  

87  

  

0  

  



Oban 

  

13  

  

312  

  

177  

  

15  

  

289  

  

141  

  

13  

  

307  

  

199  

  

18  

  

378  

  

260  

  

10  

  

398  

  

239  

  



Paisley 

  

141  

  

3,773  

  

2,373  

  

118  

  

2,945  

  

2,375  

  

122  

  

2,771  

  

1,548  

  

87  

  

3,036  

  

1,555  

  

119  

  

2,149  

  

1,517  

  



Peebles 

  

3  

  

195  

  

312  

  

4  

  

182  

  

147  

  

2  

  

102  

  

226  

  

1  

  

166  

  

144  

  

2  

  

142  

  

107  

  



Perth 

  

39  

  

1,932  

  

2,097  

  

38  

  

2,169  

  

2,092  

  

44  

  

1,816  

  

1,813  

  

37  

  

1,942  

  

2,269  

  

43  

  

1,877  

  

2,484  

  



Peterhead 

  

15  

  

950  

  

688  

  

6  

  

923  

  

816  

  

16  

  

984  

  

568  

  

35  

  

1,084  

  

612  

  

14  

  

934  

  

572  

  



Portree 

  

2  

  

144  

  

98  

  

0  

  

152  

  

97  

  

2  

  

141  

  

128  

  

1  

  

102  

  

111  

  

2  

  

72  

  

74  

  



Rothesay 

  

2  

  

252  

  

95  

  

3  

  

172  

  

81  

  

6  

  

105  

  

31  

  

3  

  

83  

  

16  

  

3  

  

78  

  

19  

  



Selkirk 

  

11  

  

447  

  

767  

  

13  

  

414  

  

815  

  

10  

  

250  

  

551  

  

6  

  

336  

  

581  

  

9  

  

409  

  

508  

  



Stirling 

  

44  

  

1,549  

  

775  

  

29  

  

1,621  

  

839  

  

35  

  

1,501  

  

914  

  

39  

  

1,022  

  

894  

  

48  

  

1,043  

  

677  

  



Stonehaven 

  

6  

  

832  

  

549  

  

8  

  

856  

  

537  

  

0  

  

995  

  

715  

  

5  

  

972  

  

921  

  

6  

  

760  

  

843  

  



Stornoway 

  

7  

  

354  

  

162  

  

1  

  

345  

  

134  

  

2  

  

338  

  

219  

  

2  

  

399  

  

361  

  

1  

  

290  

  

197  

  



Stranraer 

  

34  

  

801  

  

461  

  

33  

  

869  

  

468  

  

28  

  

924  

  

503  

  

38  

  

876  

  

387  

  

11  

  

878  

  

291  

  



Tain 

  

9  

  

330  

  

369  

  

8  

  

362  

  

312  

  

3  

  

380  

  

293  

  

7  

  

372  

  

335  

  

11  

  

454  

  

208  

  



Wick 

  

6  

  

355  

  

199  

  

7  

  

349  

  

179  

  

3  

  

457  

  

228  

  

6  

  

318  

  

166  

  

6  

  

291  

  

207

Poverty

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of lone parents in Scotland go without food in order to feed their children, as defined in Patterns of Health and Illness amongst Lone Parents, Popay and Jones (1990 ).

Ms Wendy Alexander: The article in question concerns the health implications of lone parenthood and poverty (but does not present statistics on whether lone parents go without food). The combined data on which the article is based relates to Great Britain from 1980-82.

Rural Affairs

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive why organic aid schemes are only available for start-up between August and the end of October.

Ross Finnie: Applications to enter the Organic Aid Scheme may be made throughout the year. Applicants are required to stipulate the date when they intend to start the conversion process. These arrangements were supported by the organic sector bodies prior to launch of the Scheme in Scotland in 1994 because it enabled the necessary sector body inspections to be carried out during a quieter farming period.

Rural Affairs

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any measures it is considering to increase exclusion zones around genetically modified field crops.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive looks to the independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment to set detailed risk management conditions for individual consents to grow genetically modified crops in field conditions, this includes setting relevant isolation distances. The Committee considers carefully all relevant scientific evidence and keeps its advice under continuous review.

Rural Affairs

Allan Wilson (Cunninghame North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the incidence of prosecutions in Scotland for unburied carcases has increased or decreased in the last two years and whether it will provide figures.

Ross Finnie: The Dogs Act 1906 and the Animal By-Products Order 1999 are the legislative instruments under which prosecutions are made in Scotland for unburied carcases and animal by-products. Scottish Executive officials receive on a quarterly basis, reports of breaches of the legislation that are referred by the appropriate enforcement authority to the Procurator Fiscal for consideration.

  The incidence of breaches reported to the Procurator Fiscal in this regard is as follows:

  1997: 11

  1998: 24

  1999 (to 30 June): 10

Transport

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many repairs have been carried out to the M9 between junctions 9 and 11 over the past five years and at what cost.

Sarah Boyack: For the period 1 April 1996 to 31 January 1999 £672,000 has been spent on routine and structural maintenance on the M9 between Junctions 9 and 11. Prior to April 1996 the M9 was maintained on behalf of the Secretary of State by the former Central Regional Council. Records relating to work undertaken by Central Regional Council for the 2 years prior to 1996 are not readily available.